Fiction writer Ian Fleming made spies and intelligence synonymous much to the detriment of other members of the intelligence community. The real life 007s employed by the U.S. government do not work alone on the front lines of espionage; a corps of professionals in 17 government agencies and branches of the military support national security in less dramatic, but equally vital, positions. These public servants receive compensation according to the grade and series class assigned to their positions on the general or excepted service schedules maintained by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management or the U.S. Department of Defense military pay table.

CIA Career Opportunities

The Central Intelligence Agency has intelligence opportunities in analysis and clandestine service. Seven analyst positions focus on different aspects intelligence: political, economic, leadership, targeting, military, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence threat analysis and intelligence. According to the CIA, its analysts all earned between $49,861 and $97,333 in 2014, depending on where they’re based and experience. Analytic methodologists also fell in the same salary range as analysts; however, Washington, D.C.-based open-source officers who study information from foreign websites, printed publications and social media earned $57,649 to $115,742. National clandestine careers with the CIA as operations, paramilitary operations, collection management, language, targeting and staff operation officers begin as entry-level core collectors with 2014 salaries ranging from $52,976 to $81,204.

Navy, Army and Coast Guard Intelligence

The U.S. Navy defines intelligence as knowledge of an adversary's intentions, strengths and weaknesses. Naval intelligence officers, or INTELs, with less than two years of service received $2,905 to $9,946 per month in 2014. The intelligence specialist entry-level position paid $1,532 to $2,752 with less than two years with the Navy. Like the CIA, the U.S. Coast Guard employs intelligence operations specialists in the GS 11, 12 and 13 pay grades that start at between $50,790 and $72,391. Among the U.S. Army’s intelligence careers are human intelligence collector, intelligence analyst and geospatial intelligence imagery analyst positions. The lowest monthly salary for these enlisted entry-level jobs was $1,532 in 2014. Pay for civilian intelligence jobs with these three branches follows the general schedule for excepted service appointments.

Air Force and Marine Corps Intelligence Work

The U.S. Air Force offers enlisted and intelligence officer positions and enlisted careers in network intelligence analysis, geospacial intelligence and communications signals. USAF intelligence officers can earn the same as Navy INTELs, while enlisted jobs paid a 2014 monthly rate of $1,532 to $2,752 with less than two years. Civilians can work as intelligence specialists with the USAF and earn $60,274 to $78,355. The U.S. Marine Corps' intelligence department relies on military and civilian appointments. Its military positions use the same pay scale as the other service branches. Civilian jobs, however, are considered excepted service positions and carry a GG grade that equates to the GS grade. The Corps has a leadership training program to develop civilian intelligence positions that range from GG-5 through GG-15 with minimum annual pay of $27,705 to $ 100,624.

Intelligence Careers with Other Agencies

Although the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies have domestic interests, they each offer careers working in intelligence. Among the FBI's positions, special agents start at the GS-10, step 1 level with a 2014 salary of $46,229. DEA careers start at $41,979 at the GS-9 level and can have starting salaries of $72,391 at the GS-13 level. Homeland Security and other agencies that employ intelligence research specialists base starting salaries on experience, location and the general schedule salary table for GS-9 through 12 -- $41,979 to $60,877 annually.

About the Author

Trudy Brunot began writing in 1992. Her work has appeared in "Quarterly," "Pennsylvania Health & You," "Constructor" and the "Tribune-Review" newspaper. Her domestic and international experience includes human resources, advertising, marketing, product and retail management positions. She holds a master's degree in international business administration from the University of South Carolina.